Dance
DANCE AT DOWDALES
At Dowdales, dance is taught as part of pupils’ weekly Performing Arts lessons. Through these lessons pupils experience a variety of creative tasks and gain knowledge and skills which enable them to enjoy and achieve. Pupils also work to develop personal learning and thinking skills which will help them in other areas of their school life. Over the 3 years of dance training pupils will;
v Build critical thinking skills in order to interpret dance themes, ideas and movements through analysis of professional dance works and choreographers.
v Show an understanding of the differences between live and pre-recorded performances and the different techniques used.
v Strengthen and refine creative skills using a range of stimuli to plan and choreograph original dances.
v Learn to contextualise dance in culture and history.
v Develop their confidence to perform in front of an audience.
Pupils have lessons in dance in years 7, 8 and 9 with the opportunity to select it as an option for GCSE. In Key Stage 3 they have the chance to develop their skills in choreography, performance and appreciation. The units of work currently delivered as part of the curriculum are as follows;
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Year 7
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Year 8
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Year 9
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Term 1
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· Myself into Movement
· Bounce
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· Dance Tek Warriors
· Losing it
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· Parkour
· Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker
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Term 2
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· African/ Caribbean dance
· Cartoon Capers
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· Bugsy Malone
· Ghost Dances
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· Lindy Hop Dance Off
· Yin and Yang
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Term 3
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· Footprint futures
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· Bollywood
· Collarbone
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· Street dance and Pop video
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Clubs
DYD2 (Monday lunchtime 1pm – 1.30pm – Mrs Goodall)
Dowdales Youth Dance 2 is a small group run by Mrs Goodall for intensive training to improve their dance skills and techniques.
Youth Dance Furness (Monday 5pm – 6.30pm – Mrs Goodall & Mrs Dawson)
This club is open to all students’ post 16 who want to continue their dance training with the opportunity to perform at a variety of events and venues across Cumbria.
Boys dance (Tuesday lunchtime – Mr Hate)
Boys dance is open to all boys across the year groups who want to learn dance moves ranging from street dance, break dancing and urban dance, and work creatively with these to produce their own dances.
LYD (Tuesday 3.45pm – 5pm – Mrs Dawson)
Lower Years Dance includes pupils from years 7, 8 and 9 who meet to develop choreographic ideas and improve performance skills. The dances created are performed in the annual dance show.
DYD (Wednesday 5pm – 6.30pm – Mrs Goodall)
Dowdales Youth Dance meet weekly for a high standard technical training and development of choreographic devices with opportunities to perform in school and the community.
“There is a great range of clubs at Dowdales for pupils who want to take part in extra activities in dance and the opportunity to perform at different events”
Alex Morrison
Girls pop video (Thursday lunchtime 1pm – 1.30pm – Mr Hate) *NEW* (Starting Jan 2010)
A chance for girls across the year groups to boogie like Britney and shake like Shakira to the latest chart tunes.
Year 7 (Friday lunchtime 1pm – 1.30pm – Mrs Goodall & Mr Hate)
Year 7 dance club allows the pupils to transfer their skills from their dance lessons and use these to create their own choreography and the opportunity to develop their performance skills in larger groups.
Dance Show
Dowdales dance department have a dance show every year at the end of spring or start of the summer term. Last years dance concert ‘Elemental’ showcased a range of dance styles and works from pupils including GCSE choreography, AS and A Level choreography, work from the different dance clubs and even a staff dance. This gives pupils the opportunity to develop their performance skills and demonstrates the progression from Key Stage 3 right up to A Level. This years show is 28th and 29th April 2010 which pupils are currently working towards.
Dance at Dowdales is ….
“I like dance at Dowdales because I think it’s a good change to do a practical lesson to break up our lessons in a classroom”
Faye Collins
“Dance allows you to express yourself in different ways”
Hannah Walmsley
“Dance allows me to show off my individuality”
Alice Cruse
“I really enjoyed the dance concert. Being on stage gives you such a buzz! All dancers enjoyed taking part. Great fun!”
Iona Pinches
“I love dancing at Dowdales in Youth dance and GCSE. But the best part is performing, for it gives you something to show for all your hard work”
Hannah Jackson
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